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22 Jul 2010, 05:45

MBAInsurance wrote:

Hi,

Request to please evaluate my profile for the TOP 10 Leading B Schools (including India and US).

Work Experience : 6.5 years in IT industry in India with one of the Top MNCs here (This is my second company, the earlier being another top MNC in India). Have around 1.5+ years of Overseas exposure (in USA and Canada) as Technical Analyst and was involved in Client interaction and technical negotiations. Throughout my professional career I was involved in different projects and served high profile Global clients which included Fortune 500 companies also. Before I moved to US with a new role, I was also the "Module Lead" for my project for almost a year and 7-8 members were working directly under my supervision. I had a promotion 8 months back (is it relevant????).Cleared and achieved different technical/ Non Technical certifications which includes Microsoft, ITIL (for Service Management).

1. Will this experience good enough for the schools I am aiming for? Is it suitable for 2 years MBA or a shorter duration Executive MBA? Are professional certifications like PMP and CFA help in making life simpler to get into top B Schools?

Degree : B.Tech in Information Technology from one of the Private Engineering Colleges in eastern India. My B.Tech GPA is 8.3 out of 10.

Social Activities:Involved with Companies Corporate Social Responsibility Team (sometimes need to go to primary schools and teach poor children/ donation collection etc.) and Environment Focus Team (was involved in a team for public awareness on different environmental issues etc.).

3. What can I do to make my Extra Curricular segment look more impressive (Can I project photography-which I like to do as a passion)? Will this section impact my overall chance of getting into the schools?

AND Last one is - can you plz site some good examples which might help me to understand, what top schools looks specifically in the crowd of applicants to make their selections (means .. certifications, considerable overseas exposure...some special Extra Curricular skills etc....)???

Really appreciate your suggestions here. Thanks.

Hi MI,

Your work experience of 6.5 years is close to the top of the average range of 4-6 years for a full-time MBA. It is low for an Executive MBA. However, since it is slightly longer than your potential full-time MBA classmates, there will be more focus on your leadership abilities and experiences. In your case, having direct reports, international exposure and a recent promotion helps. However, since you are an Indian male with an IT background (the most common MBA student profile), AdComs will give special consideration to your communication and presentation abilities. I would emphasize those more throughout your application components than your technical skills and certifications since those, although good, are not as relevant to your MBA as your soft skills (or lack thereof).

In terms of your GMAT, although there is more emphasis on work experience for older candidates, having a higher GMAT helps in cases like yours where there could be concerns on your language abilities. If you decide to take the GMAT again, focus more on the Verbal section and AWA score to mitigate such concerns. As for certifications like PMP and CFA, they are good to have, but not deal-makers (or breakers) for being admitted.

Regarding your extracurricular activities, these are important to set you apart. Like I mentioned above, you come from a candidate pool that is the most highly represented in MBA applications. Anything you can do to set yourself apart, of which the personal profile/extracurricular activities are the most important part, will help your competitiveness.

Regarding your last question, I have seen many applications both as an admissions interviewer and consultant, and there is no one-answer-fits-all. For every applicant, well-developed soft skills, rich work experience, high level of involvement in the community and a solid academic record are a great start. The next step is a high level of self-awareness for one's strengths and weaknesses, and clearly matching them to the program at hand. Finally, an applicant should be able to clearly describe Why MBA, Why Now and Why this School? More on this on the latest My MBA Admit blog entry.

Hope that helps! If you like this post, do give us a Kudos (+1 button on the right).

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22 Jul 2010, 05:48

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The Business School Application resume – what, how long and why?

Our latest installment on Strong MBA Applications focuses on the resume. While business school essays provide the inside story on one of your achievements in the professional, personal or academic arenas, a business school application resume should ideally provide a bird's-eye view of all your achievements together.

Let's cover some of the common concerns of an MBA application resume.

What should it cover?

The major difference between a MBA and a job resume is the audience.

The employer is interested in how relevant your past experience and skills are for a particular position. However, the business school AdCom is interested in the bigger picture – the versatility of your profile to judge your fit, and its suitability to contribute to the diversity of the incoming class.

Things to include in a MBA resume, besides the traditional professional resume, would be an emphasis on soft skills, extracurricular and community activities, personal interests and a broader description of your profile and/or company, if not well-known.

Things to avoid would be industry-specific jargon, as well as listing certifications that are not as well-known without elaboration.

How long should it be?

From my experiences in academic/corporate interviewing and guiding graduate applicants since 2004, I am inclined to look at resumes with a naturally critical eye. In my experience, resumes that are 1-1.5 pages long tend to be the most engaging. Shorter than that, you run the risk of focusing on just the professional achievements. Longer than that, you are discussing more tasks (routine activities) than star achievements.

Besides, most MBA applicants have an average of 5 years of experience. For this level, a one-page resume is the one most commonly prescribed. Keep it to about 1.5 pages to include all your achievements outside the workplace for the MBA AdCom.

Why is this exercise important?

Giving your resume its due attention in the application stage will also make it easier to cut it down to 1 page when you start applying for summer internships pretty soon after you start the program. You will have enough on your plate then – wouldn't it be nice to have one thing less to worry about?

An additional benefit is that the work you put in will give you a clearer idea of your past accomplishments and help to better position yourself for future career goals. This exercise will help you hit the ground running for your internship search once you are in the MBA program.

As competition in MBA programs grows more intense, business school admissions committees scrutinize every aspect of the MBA application to a greater extent. This includes resumes. A precise, well-written resume will help to attest a candidate's credibility much more than one that needs to be completely reworked. This is why all the Business School Admissions Consulting packages (Elite, Complete or Essential) at My MBA Admit/Admit World were designed to include a comprehensive Resume Review. In addition, Resume Reviews are also available as a stand-alone service in both their Standard and Advanced versions.

If you like this post, do give us a Kudos (the +1 box on the left). Much appreciated!

Work Experience: 6.5 years with TCSI spend the first 2.5 years working as a software developer in India for an investment banking software.Since August 2006: I have been working in US as a Business Validation/QA(functional) Analyst for one of the largest wealth management products in the world. My responsibilities have majorly included validating the business function for the software with the wealth management market in UK.PS: I do not have a direct managerial experience, as the project structure is that of a flat organization. A manager in y project has over 12-15 years of experience. My team includes individual with a MBA, CFA, CPA qualification and also former traders and bankers. A major part of the responsibility is to address gaps in the software, map it to client needs and offer solutions to address the gaps. Because the job demands validation of the system as a whole I get to typically interact with over 200-250 people(out of 400 project strength) and coordinate work across a mix of 7-8 teams at one time. This provides an excellen opportunity to practice indirect management. Because of the flat structure of the project a manager typically has 12-15 years of experience. However I have been managing a team of 5 individuals for the past 7 months. Also in my team of 30 members, I am among the only 2 engineers in the team.

Since I Last Applied to business school for Fall2010 session- Following are the changes in my profile

• GMAT : Score increased from 690 to 730(Q50,V38, AWA 6.0)

• Work Profile - Managing a team of 5 individuals ( 2 peers and 3 junior associates). Assisting my Senior manager in planning for a $25 Million US version release for the software

• Executive Member for Business forum run by TCS North America, involved in finding synergies between various software implementations and chalking out the product road map. I am the youngest member in the forum.

• Toastmaster - Serving as the Vice President for the Club for the past 8 Months.

Achievements at work :• Finalist at TAS 2008 (Tata Administrative Services - Fast track management Program for grooming individuals to take up executive positions in the $70 Billion TATA Group)

• Peer Recognition award winner in 2007 ( Given to 4 individuals every year out of the project strength of 400).

• Icon Award winner in 2009, (Only 1 given every year out of 400)Extra Curricular/ Community service:

College - Student Body member, President Quiz club. Founder of monthly college magazine - FundaMentalsPost College - Member of Toastmasters Club - since 2009, currently serving as the Vice President - Education for the Club ( club strength is 41 members)

Big Brother Big Sister - Mentored a 11 year old boy for a year. Will begin another year when the school year starts in September.

Green Team - Events Committee - VP. - saved over $120,000 for the company through various initiatives. Extended the practices here to my hometown in India. Organized a recycling awareness drive in Delhi covering 250 households/ 3 speeches at resident communities and personal visit to over 50 families.

Charity work mostly through company engagements, includes commitments of 2-3 hours every month.

Hobbies - Rafting, running ( have run 4 5K races this year and 2 for charities)

Short term Goal - I want to target a Strategy consulting profile, but I am open to get back to the IT industry in Sales and Business Development.

Long Term Goal - Go back to India and lead a consulting initiative there in the areas of Technology, business system consulting. A lot of this would depend on my post MBA profile, but I do want to go back to India and use my US experience to transfer best practices to India.

Request you to go through this an offer a profile evaluation and comments on my choice of schools and the chances of making it to them.

If possible I am also looking for tips on how to address the application to schools where I am a reapplicant.What should i be emphasizing on on my reapplicant essays

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Can you help evaluate my profile ? Do I have a realistic shot at the ultra elite schools ? I figure I should focus on the schools that I really have a shot during the first round.

Male 30 years old (31 years by July 2011)

Work Experience: 7 years in India, US & Singapore

A qualified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with over six years of experience managing Lean Six Sigma initiatives within the Manufacturing and Services industry.Key skills include large program management, strategic planning, persuasive communication, change management, relationship development and team building at all levels and across all business functions, leading productive project teams, and quickly adapting to changing conditions. A very successful track record of producing measurable results from a variety of different project types across multiple industries as well as coaching and mentoring associates through the Lean Six Sigma tools and methodologies to certification.

Specific highlights of accomplishments and qualifications:• Completed the Edison Engineering Development Program (EEDP). EEDP is one of the most prestigious Entry Level Technical Leadership program at General Electric (GE) Company spread over 2 years of rigorous Advanced Engineering course work along with 6 months of rotations across different product lines providing a cross-functional exposure to the various business processes.• Developed and led Six Sigma deployments to self sustainability and measurable long-term results in more than 5 organizations• Certified Six Sigma Black Belt (CSSBB) – trained and coached over 200 Green Belts (GBs) and 30 Black Belts (BBs) to certification• Managed major projects, ranging from $250,000 to $2 million, producing measurable results such as: reducing operating expenses in manufacturing plants by $2 million and reducing customer complaint calls to service center by 28%

GPA: 2.8Indian Institute of Techonology (IIT), Kharagpur. There were no extenuating circumstances , I just coasted through my undergraduate course - the folly of my ill spent youth. Graduating without honors was a kind of a 'wake up' moment for me.

International Experience:Currently working to achieve an operational turn around for a privately held mid size frozen foods manufacturer in US so that the Private Equity player funding it can take it public.Worked for Fortune 10 firm at their world headquaters in US as part of their New Product Development team.

Extracurriculars:

During undergrad:Dramatics and theater – won Best Actor award in the Open IIT Dramatics competition

Since graduation:My hobbies are to go hiking and travel and I try to do that every new place my consulting engagement takes me. To that extent , I have traveled to around 30 different states in India and US.

I am avid fan of classic rock music and believe my explorations in this area have provided me an unique perspective of the western world.

Post MBA aspirations:

Top Strategy Consulting firm in US

Questions :To what extent have I made up for my poor GPA with my GMAT score ? What kind of doubts would Adcom still have about my poor GPA ?

I really don't examples of leadership experience outside work. My volunteering experience is sparse. With enough leadership experience at work, is the lack of leadership experience outside work an issue ?

Are my dreams schools of Tuck, Chicago, Yale, Darden or Wharton possible with a poor GPA ? What are my chances with LBS, IMD and INSEAD ?

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I am writing to gather some of your insight as to how should i increase my extra curricular involvement.

My current level of activities involve sketching and singing. However, I don't know how should I act to be able to show some leadership in these areas.

Please give some suggestions as to what should i start doing. I have just started on preparing for gmat. I need to have some strong extracurriculars to show by the time i apply to schools.

Thank you

Hi MegW,

Extra-curricular activities are evaluated in a somewhat similar fashion as professional experiences. An AdCom tries to understand the level of involvement of the candidate in any such activity, and judges that by the stories presented. For example, a candidate who has been deeply involved in a given activity for a significant period will be able to demonstrate progress and achievements - individually or as a group leader, and will probably have faced a certain number of challenges as well. As an MBA interviewer, I always try to pressure-test a candidate's involvement in extracurricular activities by requesting her to discuss a challenging or a proud moment - the level of detail she is able to provide is a good indication of how deep her involvement was.

In your case, think about singing or sketching, or indeed, any other activity on similar lines. Can you show any awards and recognition for these? Are you able to demonstrate leadership, e.g. organizing a group for a competition? How about a challenging project you may have taken up, e.g. a mural that needed to be completed in a short time frame that you might have had to guide a team for? Do you feel like these activities may have contributed to your growth as a person? If so, how?

These are just examples but hopefully they give you an idea of how to position your experiences. I would start by giving some thought to noteworthy moments throughout your involvement in these activities, and explore if there are ways you can be even more involved. I would be careful to not make it look like you signed up for a bunch of stuff at the last moment though - that can seem like involvement only for the sake of the MBA application. Candidates often book time with one of our consultants to brainstorm, especially for situations like these that involve exploration and positioning. If you are thinking of doing something similar, send us an email at MBAConsult@MyMBAAdmit.com, and we will continue chatting.